Step back in time and explore the rich history of The Windsor Hotel, nestled in the heart of royal Windsor.
The Castle Hotel began life in 1528 as The Mermaid Inn – humbly brewing beer and cider for the people of Windsor which, at the time, was a small town of just 1,000 people.
In 1644 – 1672, the small change of England and Wales was suppressed due to a collapse of confidence in it because of over-issue and massive counterfeiting. There was no provision in the country for low-value money and to fill in this gap, many civic corporations and businesses issued their own coins or tokens.
This led to The Pennington Penny being issued by the entrepreneurial Innkeeper of the Mermaid Inn – one George Pennington – in Windsor in 1656. As far as we know, there’s now only one remaining copy of The Pennington Penny in existence and it’s kept in the vaults of the British Museum.
During the 1700s, innkeeper Richard Martin was awarded the first of the hotel’s eight Royal Warrants – to provide horses and carriages for the royal household. The hotel grew with the population of Windsor to become one of the grandest places to stay in the Royal Borough.
By the 19th century, The Castle Hotel Windsor had solidified its reputation as the connoisseur’s choice of accommodation in the area. The hotel was so popular among the elite that the Duke of Wellington stepped in to dine after his victory over Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo.
Today, The Castle Hotel stands as a testament to Windsor’s rich history, and we are excited to be starting our upcoming refurbishment. Our goal is to keep the history while incorporating today’s technology, luxurious amenities, and excellent service. We aim to make The Castle Hotel a destination for both locals and hotel guests. The changes will encompass not only the guestrooms but also an exciting destination bar and restaurant.
We cannot wait to take you on our redefined journey and welcome you to our new-look Castle Hotel.